Pakistan being destabilised as part of an international conspiracy, says Ahsan

LAHORE: Interior Minister Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal Saturday said that Pakistan is being destabilised internally as part of an international conspiracy to prevent the ‘nuclear power’ to become an economic power as well.

The minister alleged that some institutions wanted to usurp the powers and authority of Parliament, adding that as per reports there was an office from where NAB was being pressurised to reopen Hudaibiya case.

“It is hoped that the Supreme Court (SC) will take notice of the reports for the sake of a fair trial which the Constitution guarantees to everyone,” he said. He elaborated that the media reports were very crucial and hopefully the SC Chief Justice will take notice of the reports.

The minister also said that calling NAB officers by an influential person and issuing instructions was against justice, adding that Nawaz Sharif’s political stature was getting tall with each and every excess being done to him.

Ahsan Iqbal also said that there was no precedent, of appointing monitoring judge to oversee cases of an individual, in the judicial history of the country. He added that during the last four years under Nawaz Sharif, the country had made exceptional economic gains and had reached the take-off point.

He also said that they [Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N)] respect the verdicts of the superior judiciary but have reservations over them, adding that these reservations were not just from the PML-N but from a large number of legal experts and people of the country.

He said that an elected prime minister had been ousted, which had no precedence, and he had not been given a right to appeal. In this connection, he said that the Panama case verdict had joined the list of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Nusrat Bhutto, Maulvi Tameezuddin and Zafar Ali Shah cases, which were still being talked about.

The interior minister said that Parliament is the ‘mother of law’ and not an ‘orphanage’, but it appears that it was being made worthless.

“Some institutions are transgressing on the powers of the Parliament and we will raise this matter, and hold talks with parliamentary leaders to ensure the supremacy of the elected house,” he stressed. He added that if Parliament’s powers were challenged, it would weaken the basis of Constitution and this was not acceptable to them.

He said that the verdict in the Panama case cost the country heavily as the stock exchange suffered a loss of Rs14 to 16 billion. In addition, he added, investment had been stopped which was a loss of the nation and its youths.

Enumerating the achievements and successes of PML-N government during last four years, the minister said that the backbone of terrorism had been broken and peace had largely been restored across the country.

“Development projects worth billions are in progress in the country, including Balochistan, and the government is going to overcome the energy crisis,” he said and added that 10,000 MW of electricity had been added to the system in four years.

The minister hailed ‘World XI’ players for coming to Pakistan for ‘Independence Cup’ to revive international cricket in the country. He also added that soon Karachi will also get security clearance and matches will be played there.

He said that successful holding of PSL final in Lahore was the driving force behind the international players’ motivation to come to Pakistan.

Regarding NA-120 by-election, he said that Lahore would give a verdict which would be according to its tradition. “PML-N had run a comprehensive and effective campaign for the by-election, and Sunday’s by-polls will be a historic one,” he opined.